357 days after his last start Brialka Lodge returned the races at the Sunshine Coast, on Sunday, with a hard-fought win in the SWIM BETWEEN THE FLAGS Class 2 Handicap over 1200metres.  With only a jump-out and barrier trial under his belt trainer Chris Munce felt he was ready for a race like this.

With jockey Anthony Allen up, the 6-year old gelding broke nicely from Barrier 2 and quickly settled in second position to get a nice trail in behind race leader Essaka.  By the 850 mark Brialka Lodge was still a length and a half behind Essaka but Allen had him travelling along nicely under a good hold.  As they came out of the Pierce Avenue side and into the home turn Allen pulled Brialka Lodge out from behind Essaka and began to make his move.  After being forced wide just after the 400metre mark and then copping a couple of decent bumps along the way, from the inside horse, Brialka Lodge did not flinch and dug in deep to fight on.  He nudge past Essaka to take the line in a photo finish in a time of 1:13:82.

‘Coming back from having some bone chips removed and being an older horse, it has taken a bit of work to him here but he has stood up really well this prep.  He has handled the workload and is improving all the time.’ said Munce.  ‘‘I am very proud the horse.  It was a fantastic effort today.’

Brialka Lodge is by champion stallion Hotel Grand, winner of two Group 1 races in the Spring Champion Stakes and the Randwick Guineas.  He is out of the Orpen (USA) mare Absent Annie, dam of Monaco Playboy who is also now part of the Munce Racing team.

Congratulations to owners Mrs A T Durrington and Mr B H Durrington

[Photos courtesy of Grant Peters, Trackside Photography]